Patentia man fined $20,000 for Boxing Day chopping over stolen bird

Mistaken identity?– to pay $80,000 compensation to victimFor actions that were based on hearsay, 48-year-old Ian Dorris, a Route 40 (Kitty-Campbellville) minibus driver, shop owner and resident of Patentia, West Bank Demerara, found himself on Thursday arraigned before Wales Magistrate Annette Singh.Gansarran SamarooHe admitted to having unlawfully and maliciously wounded Gansarran Samaroo on December 26, 2017 because he assumed that Samaroo had stolen his bird from his premises.Samaroo appeared in court limping, and with stiches to stab wounds inflicted to both his foot and upper body.According to the Police Prosecutor’s facts, Dorris had his pet under his house when Samaroo, who also resides in Patentia, purchased liquor from his shop and left.Dorris subsequently discovered that his bird was missing, and made checks about the neighbourhood. Magistrate Singh was told that the accused made several enquiries from neighbours, who affirmed that it was the VC who had carried out the act.The court heard that Dorris searched for, and contacted, Samaroo, then questioned him about the missing bird. Dorris then armed himself with a cutlass and dealt the victim several shops about the body before he took him to the Wales Police Station.At the station, ranks observed the man’s injuries and took him to West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH), where he was treated and sent away with a medical certificate. Police then cautioned Dorris and took him into custody for the offence.After Dorris had agreed with the Prosecution’s facts, Magistrate Singh highlighted that the defendant should have carried Samaroo to the station before injuring him.Ever remorseful, the accused said he had given the victim all the assistance that was required, but Samaroo was refusing his initial offer of $60,000 compensation and was demanding $120,000. The two parties eventually agreed on $80,000, and half of that amount was paid on Thursday.The Magistrate gave the defendant until next Thursday to pay the remaining $40,000. If he does not honour his obligation, he will spend three months in jail. Dorris was also fined $20,000.Samaroo went out of court limping just as he had entered. He was not charged for larceny, and Guyana Times was told that it could have been someone else who had stolen Dorris’s bird. (Shemuel Fanfair)